Dry-cleaning or dry-dyeing establishment



May 4 1926.

G. H. FELTHAUS DRY CLEANING o'R DRY DYEING ESTABLISHMENT Filed Augustl5. 1924 e w. w wf w 7 d o @u l 32 a v l i 6.x. .L/...nzvf )LZ1 .n./nxahattoz neg dangerous gases,

Patented May 4, 1926.y

GEORGE H. FELTHAUS, 0F EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.

DRY-CLEANING OIR DRY-DYEING ESTABLISHMENT.

Application led August 15, 1924. Serial No. 732,183.

To all whom t may concer/n.:

`l5e it known that GEORGE H. FELTHAUs, citizen of the United States,residing at Evansville, in the county of Vanderburg and State ofIndiana, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dry-Cleaning or Dry-Dyeing Establishments, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in dry cleaning or dry dyeingestablishments or garages, and has particular reference to means foradequately withdrawing the heavy combustible or dangerous gases,ordinarily1 accumulating adjacent to the ioor of same.

As is well known, in dry cleaning and dry dyeing establishmentscombustible or resulting from the use of gasoline, benzine, or othervolatile hydrocarbons, accumulate in the same, adjacent to the floor.These ases frequently rise in the room of an estatiiishment to such aheight that they may be inhaled by the attendants, with considerableinjury to the same. Further, explosions frequently occur in suchestablishments, due to these combustible gases. The fire hazardattendant upon the operation of such establishments is well recognizedand a number ofStates have passed drastic laws attempting to relieve thesituation. These laws provide enerally thatJ such establishments shallVbe re-proof, and

that adequate Ventilating systems be ein-v ployed, which will change theatmosphere at desired periods. Some States have gone so far -as torequire such establishments to be built in one story, without abasement, and to have walls formed solid, without air spaces therein.

I am aware of the fact that attempts have heretofore been made toventilate the room of such establishments, and it is the ordinarypractice to install a power-driven fan at or near Aan opening, in onewall of the room, near the bottom, for withdrawing the gases. rlhismethod is unsatisfactory inasmuch as it causes the gases to circulateacross the entire room, over and above the attendants, and, further,such a means will not properly ventilate the room or change theatmosphere of the saine.

I have observed that it is the presence in the room of an accumulationolf combustible gases vapors and foul air, generated by the volatileliquids which, if not carried awa instantaneously, result in fire,attendant wit loss of life.

I have discovered that, in order to thoroughly ventilato the room ofsuch an establishment, and to remove the combustible gases therefrom, itis necessary to arrange a number of outlets over the iioor of the room,preferably in close relation to the different machines installedtherein. These outlets are connected by means of pipes to a commonsuction pipe which may be imbedded in the floor of the room. 'lhe commonsuction pipe has its diameter increased at its union with the severalpipes leading to the outlets2 whereby the suction from the common pipewill be evenly distributed to the several outlets.

A system constructed along this line will substantially complete theremoval of all the combustible gases and will completely change theatmosphere of the room at short intervals, and more frequently thanrequired by the most rigid fire prevention statutes, thereby eliminatingthe fire hazard.

My System may be installed in a building` when it is being constructed,or may be placed therein .after construction without any considerablealteration in the building, whereby the cost of installation yis reducedto the minimum.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a plan View of a system enibodying my invention, r

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates the roomor building of a dry cleaning establishment, the walls of which areformed of fire-proof material, such as solid plastic blocks or the like.The walls are equipped with reproof windows and door or doors, asdesired. The entire room is reproof. Theseveral machines used in the drycleaning process are arranged in this room. The numeral 6 designates ascrubbing bench, 7 a dry tumbler, 8 a washer, 9 4a distill, 10 anextractor, and 10 a dry room. The invention is, of course, notrestricted to the precise arrangementvof the machinery.

Extending longitudinally of the room, or

building, preferably adjacent to one side -wallthereof, is a commonsuction pipe or- 'conduit 11, which is preferably imbedded within thefloor 12, which is ordinarily formed of concrete or the like. i monsuction pipe 11 leads vto the intake side of a rotary exhaust fan .13,having its outlet side in communication with the pipe 14 extending tothe atmosphere, exteriorly of the room. The suction pipe l1 ispreferably arranged behind the washer 8 and the other machinery,whereby. the fan 13 will `be brought generally beneath the line shaftfor the several machines. This enables the pulley 15 of the fan to beconveniently driven by a belt from the line shaft. In the Aevent thatthe fan 13 is to be driven by a separate motor, the fan is arrangedexteriorly of the room, and the pipe 11 w1ll pass into the ro'om.

'Ihe numeral 16 designates branch vent pipes which lead to the commonsuction pipe 11, at points spaced longitudinally of the same. Thel pipe11 has its` diameter increased at its union with each branch pipe, thepipe 11 to be increased in diameter to,- wards its discharge end. Thefunction of this is to provide means whereby the suction in the severalbranch pipes will be substantially the same. The several' branch pipes16 extend to thevarious mach1nes,such

as the washer, etc., and terminate in proximity thereto. The intake endof each branch pipe"v 16 is preferably provided with an elbow 17, whichis connected with an upstanding vertical tube 18. A valve structure orregister 19 is mounted upon the upper end o f each tube 18 and embodiesa stationary cap 20, secured" thereon, hav-ingopenings 21, adapted toregister with openings 22, formed in a pivoted valve or plate 23,secured to the cap 20 by 'means of a bolt 24. Byturning the valve 23 theopenings 21 maybe covered or uncovered. The valve or late 23 ispreferably substantially flush wit the upper surface of the floor, ormay roject a slight distance above the same. fhe valvestructure`hereemployed rovides means whereby the tubes 18 may becompletely closed at the intake ends, so that the water will not enterinto the suction system when the plant is being cleaned or hosed out.

The distribution of the inlets or. valve structures may be varied,depending somewhat upon the character of the machinery The comyextendinglongitudinally beneath the and the it is pre erred that these inlets bearranged adjacent to the machiner which produces or tends to produce thecombustible gases, thereby uickly removing the gases as soon as evolvdd.

In the use of the system the rotary fan is constantly operating and asuitable suction is created within the common pipe 11, which istransmitted to the various branch pipes 16. The valve structures areopened and as soon 4as-the heavy combustible gases are discharged intothe room, in proximity to the lioor, they are at once removed.

The system also creates a thorough circulation of airwithin the chamberand thoroughly ventilates the room, changing the air frequently and muchfaster than is required by the most drastic State laws on the subject.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to`be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I:

claim:

The combination with the room of a cleaning or dyeing establishment andthe vapor discharging machinery therein, of a pipe iioor of the'room andembodying sections which increase inv diameter toward the discharge endof the pipe, a suction'fan connected with the discharge end of theoutlet pipe section, said floor having openings therein arranged 'nearthe machines,`branchl pipes connected" with said pipe sections andleading to said openings, an apertured cap mounted upon the upper end ofeach branch pipe within said openings, and a pivoted apertured valvemounted upon each cap and adapted to cover and uncover the apertures ofthe cap, said pivoted valve beingcountersunk within the floor and havingits upper surface substantially flush with the upper surface of thefloor, said pivoted valve serving to prevent water or the like enteringthe branch pipe and also being out of the way so that it will notinterfere with walking upon the Hoor.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature'.

GEORGE H. FELTHAUS.

eneral plan of the worlnoom, but

suitably j

